Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Pippa is a combination of rainbow and TNT. The girl has ideas. The girl has energy. A lot of energy.

We were awestruck that this little thing is turning four already, and celebrated it at home with much gusto. Pippa celebrates everything with gusto. Gusto is her middle name.

I love the way she dresses herself.

I love the way she does manual labor in a princess dress.

And her bravery of deciding to get her ears pierced. The girl was determined AND decided on her course of action. Perhaps a little surprised, when she found the first side hurt, but she still went through with it and is as proud as ever.

I love the way she loves butter.

Why yes, that is whipped cream on top of a butter stick. Happy birthday.

And... the Mahnkens came over on her birthday! Boom. Seven extra children makes a party if I ever saw one. I love that Veronica took on the trip right before their huge California road trip. And it was the first time she had driven their behemoth van such a great distance, and the first time she had come over without the hubs. I salute her. Bonfires and park days and Old Navy trips galore! (Just kidding. It was two days. There was only one instance of each of those.)

So we made the froofroo cake, and happy-birthday-ed and these slappy hand-thingies we had purchased and given out made us wish there had been no party favors at all, and I still see them or pieces of them on my floors every single day but can't bring myself to toss them because as gross as it is, the children STILL play with them and love to do it, so...

Anyways. Pippa. This firecracker birthday girl.

Always look up to Jesus. He is excited about you. He is close to you. He will never leave you. He has great things for you. You will lead people with your voice. The way you love to recite scripture and sing is just beautiful. Your voice has power to effect change in the earth. You know that! Proverbs 18:21 is one of your favorites, and you committed it to memory really quickly. Your voice is a special gift that was notable from the day you were born, and I can't wait to see what happens with it as you hone it, as you use it in the presence of God, as you bend and discipline your will for the purpose of power and love and a sound mind. You've got this! God's in you! I am so blessed to be your mommy. You have made me an extra level of rich.

Love, Mama

Not a perfect picture of either of us, but we're both in it!

Here's Pippa reciting Proverbs 18:21, just before her fourth birthday: